Daredevil by Brian Michael Bendis Omnibus, Vol. 1

Daredevil (1998) (Collected Editions) #3, 4-7, 9

by Brian Michael Bendis, Lee Weeks, David W. Mack (Illustrator)

An epic of ambition, betrayal, and comeuppance culminates with the world learning the devil's mask hides a pair of blind eyes The hero of Hell's Kitchen is assailed as both civilian and super hero by a wave of his worst enemies - including the Owl, Mister Hyde, Bullseye, Typhoid, and the Kingpin of Crime But it's the heart of the Man Without Fear that gets the real workout with not only the introduction of Milla Donovan - but also the Black Widow, Elektra, and Echo Who? Echo Plus: the mystery of Leap-Frog and the trial of the White Tiger Also featuring Luke Cage and Iron Fist, Jessica Jones, and enough other guest-stars to fill a jury box Collects Daredevil #16-19, #26-60

Genres: Comics, Marvel, Graphic Novels, Superheroes, Graphic Novels Comics, Comic Book, Fiction

848 pages, Hardcover

First published August 20, 2008

About the author

A comic book writer and erstwhile artist. He has won critical acclaim (including five Eisner Awards) and is one of the most successful writers working in mainstream comics. For over eight years Bendis’s books have consistently sat in the top five best sellers on the nationwide comic and graphic novel sales charts.

Though he started as a writer and artist of independent noir fiction series, he shot to stardom as a writer of Marvel Comics' superhero books, particularly Ultimate Spider-Man.

Bendis first entered the comic world with the "Jinx" line of crime comics in 1995. This line has spawned the graphic novels Goldfish, Fire, Jinx, Torso (with Marc Andreyko), and Total Sell Out. Bendis is writing the film version of Jinx for Universal Pictures with Oscar-winner Charlize Theron attached to star and produce.

Bendis’s other projects include the Harvey, Eisner, and Eagle Award-nominated Powers (with Michael Avon Oeming) originally from Image Comics, now published by Marvel's new creator-owned imprint Icon Comics, and the Hollywood tell-all Fortune and Glory from Oni Press, both of which received an "A" from Entertainment Weekly.

Bendis is one of the premiere architects of Marvel's "Ultimate" line: comics specifically created for the new generation of comic readers. He has written every issue of Ultimate Spider-Man since its best-selling launch, and has also written for Ultimate Fantastic Four and Ultimate X-Men, as well as every issue of Ultimate Marvel Team-Up, Ultimate Origin and Ultimate Six.

Brian is currently helming a renaissance for Marvel’s AVENGERS franchise by writing both New Avengers and Mighty Avengers along with the successful ‘event’ projects House Of M, Secret War, and this summer’s Secret Invasion.

He has also previously done work on Daredevil, Alias, and The Pulse.

Reviews

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

★★★★1/2
Daredevil stories are known for being dark, gritty, street-level stories that challenge Matt Murdock not only as a superhero but as a man. Other than Frank Miller, Brian Michael Bendis is the other writer that should be credited with popularizing this. This run on the character is nothing short of revelatory. Most of the time, it doesn't even feel like a superhero comic in the traditional sense, but instead, it more closely resembles a psychologically-tense crime noir tale set in a wet and grimy Hell's Kitchen.

The omnibus opens with a story arc following journalist Ben Urich investigating a fight between Daredevil and Leap Frog. It's fine, if a bit boring, and the painterly art by David Mack doesn't match the tone of the rest of the run. But then, the series really takes off, as a mid-level mobster attempts to take out the Kingpin and in the process, Daredevil's secret identity, Matt Murdock, is revealed to the public. This starts an epic, riveting crime drama and legal thriller as Matt struggles, questions his roles as a lawyer and a hero, and is pushed to the emotional brink.



The book is pretty wordy, and I thought it would bother me, but dammit, the dialogue here is some of the best I've read in comics. Snappy and revealing, this is definitely the best writing I've seen by Bendis and his character work is probably the strongest part of this whole thing. He writes the best Ben Urich and the best Luke Cage, and the book features a terrifying Kingpin and a properly-unhinged Bullseye, while bringing back one of Daredevil's best villains, Typhoid Mary, in a truly memorable way.

The art by Alex Maleev is absolutely perfect for the story, drowning the story in inky shadows, moody atmosphere, rainy texture and well-rendered emotion. Daredevil looks truly terrifying at times here. This is much better than the previous run by Kevin Smith and Joe Quesada and is top-notch work.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars but I’ll round up to 5 because why not, this was great. Between Christmas shopping, family visiting, a new relationship, it took me forever to finish this. But man was is good! First four issues are a stand alone story about a traumatized kid who is the son of the criminal Leap Frog. The event that messed him up made him stop speaking and be withdrawn. Ben Urich worked with the doctors and social workers to try and help the kid and to see how Daredevil was involved. A nice contained story with a little heart. Then on the the main ongoing series. I finally see why this run is so highly praised. Bendis comes up with some really great story ideas/concepts and executes them very well. From people rising up to try and take out Kingpin, to him doing some really interesting things with Daredevil’s secret identity. All of it hooked me in and pulled me along for the journey. Alex Maleev’s dark gritty art style worked great here. All the side characters like Luke Cage, Spidey, Iron Fist and Black Widow were all worked into the story organically. It felt natural for them to show up when they did. The same for when old villains like Bullseye and Typhoid made their appearances. I was loving every bit of it. Absolutely cannot wait to start the next volume. If you somehow still haven’t read this, I highly recommend you do.

[James DeSantis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daredevil is my favorite Marvel character of all time.

Re-reading Bendis run solidifies that for me. It's actually Bendis run that GOT me into the character. And while I love many other runs (Brubaker, Miller, Chips, ect...) This run is just the one I can't get enough of. From the court room drama issues, to the excellent look into a man on the brink of having a mental breakdown, to the fights being so damn brutal, to creating this dark and almost myth like scarecrow in Daredevil himself. Everything about this run works for me.

This run actually starts off with a dream-like story about a boy who has PDST over the events that occurred in front of him. We soon jump into a mobster story about taking out not only the Kingpin, but finding out who Matt is, and going after him too. To Matt dealing with being outted to the world and working his way around it. To finally Matt becoming a Kingpin like figure in the underground world of crime.

It's epic, touching, sad, dark, and everything I love about Daredevil as a character wrapped up in one. If Frank Miller established this darker and more ruthless Daredevil, Bendis to me expanded this great character work on top of giving excellent character motivation and moments.

A 5 out of 5.

[Mitch Romney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential Marvel reading. Peak Bendis, and Maleev’s artwork is incredible. His Daredevil is just fierce—seeing him in action gave me chills.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comics like this are the reason that one reads comics. Bendis' writing is so exacting and self-assured that one has no choice but to go where his flights of fancy take you, and he took me exactly where I'd want a Daredevil story to be going, the heart of the criminla underworld of Hell's Kitchen and the depths of Daredevil's psyche. Daredevil being outed as Matt Murdock (possibly) is the publicity stunt for the title, but with all good Daredevil stories the real hook is Murdock going insane and having a good old mental breakdown, and how this effects not just him but everyone in his life(characters new and old). Maleev's artwork is some of the best ever to grace a comic book title and it lifts Bendis excellent writing onto another plane of existence ... there are moments featured in this omnibus that provoke the dropping of the lower jaw, Daredevil spotting Bullseye in the crowd, meeting Elektra on a roof or ... well, just flick through the damn thing and enjoy.

it's an intense, blody, often humorous, somewhat addictive 35 issues of top-class comic book storytelling that, amazingly, is still not as great as the work that Miller did on Daredevil. But it's close.

[Bruno Carriço · Rating 5 out of 5]

6 Stars and a half! :)

[Shawnholio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matt is so badass and crazy during this run. At one point he fights 100 gangsters with swords and guns. Everyone also finds out his secret identity. This makes things really complicated for his everyday life. Can't wait to start vol 2.

[OmniBen · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Zero spoiler review) 4.5/5
I know that Bendis can be somewhat polarising, and he has absolutely gone off the deep end in recent years, although back in the day, the man could write some. This is the second thing I've read of his, his Alias omnibus being the first, and the man is kicking goals when it comes to impressing old Omni Ben. And don't get me started on the Alex Maleev, art... Ok, seeing as how it's a review, you can get me started on it. It's simply scrumptious. This is how you draw a dark and gritty noirish tale. I imagine he's done something on Batman here or there, although how he hasn't had a multiple year run (I'm assuming he hasn't) is beyond me. Oh no, wait. DC leadership... I understand completely.
The three issues here during the run proper not drawn by Maleev are awful. Not so much as the artist isn't talented, but going from a grainy, ink laden oppressive style to cartoonish and bright... seriously, what the hell? You didn't have an artist who could better imitate Maleev's style? Just delay the damn book if that's the case. I assure you, disappointment on the delay aside, no one wants such a jarring and drastic change of art. It would be like me walking into a fruit shop after years of buying a banana every day for lunch, and them saying, "sorry, we're all out of bananas, but we have an onion for you instead".
But back to Bendis, as a noirish crime thriller, this is solid. As a superhero comic, it's outstanding. Mostly because it's not very superhero-y, and is in fact, a solid noirish thriller. And not very superhero-y is a great way to get me invested in your superhero story. There's barely a super villain in sight here, and the odd one that does make an appearance (Kingpin is always the exception to this rule, because he is awesome) has received said dark and gritty, noirish update.
No, it's not perfect, and it makes more than a few missteps here and there, but the overall style and tone of the book, perfectly accentuated by Maleev's excellent art, makes this an absolutely must- read Daredevil run. 4.5/5


OmniBen.

[Rumi Bossche · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me Brian Michael Bendis,  and Alex Maleev their run on Daredevil is the gold standard. This is my favorite Daredevil run, my favorite Marvel run and just one of the best comic book runs of all time. Think i use the word run to much? Run away! This comic is crime noir/ comic book perfection, and with all working artists at their best a true gem. Matt Hollingsworths colors here are dark and gritty, with just some bright colors at times to see the contrast of DD red costume in moody and rainy Hells Kitchen,  Maleev's artwork for the character is perfect, lots of shades, and a very unique style fitting like a glove for the story Bendis is telling. And what a story it it, you have your crime lords, police, crooked and good, a washed up reporter, courthouse drama and to top it off your neighbourhood superhero's. Dont expect cosmic entities in this comic, all you see is cats like Spider-Man,  Luke Cage and Jessica Jones. Mixed with some loony badguys like the Owl, who is finally to be taken serious and main stays like The Kingpin and Bullseye. The biggest problem in this omnibus is not an actual villain but the outing that Matt Murdock is Daredevil to the public. You see Matt losing his shit more and more and going so far that he becomes some sort of gangster himself. Alienating just everybody around them, as you see him spiraling down to madness, this is not your typical superhero comic. Bendis shows Daredevil like a very troubling hero who is on the verge of a mental breakdown, and almost on every page their arises a new problem. Bendis his dialogue is great and this is a very dialogue heavy book, but he handles it in a fantastic way. Its no coincidence that a movie like Taxi Driver is playing in a local theatre, becasue this is crime noir at its best, it just happens to have a Marvel superhero as its main character.

All the fucking stars for this one.

[Peter Looles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daredevil by Brian Michael Bendis Omnibus volume one

The first story arc of this run follows Ben Urich, a reporter who's a friend of Daredevil and knows about his secret identity and his origin. He's the protagonist of this arc and Daredevil doesn't even appear until the end of the 3rd issue (issue 18). In this story arc, Ben works on a story about Timmy, the kid of the villain, Leap Frog who has disappeared. As he works on the story he discovers many things, including that Frog was an abusive and violent parent. I won't spoil the ending of this arc and I'll just continue to the next issues. Kingpin (supposedly) gets killed by his own people and Matt gets targeted by the mobsters who want to take over Kingpin's territory and also know his secret identity. At the same time, Vanessa wants to avenge her husband's death and she has all of the people responsible for his death killed, except from the main guy who escaped. Because of him, a few days later, it's revealed to the public that Matt Murdock is Daredevil, but he denies everything. He has to stop being Daredevil (for a surprisingly short period of time, barely a few issues) and he works as a lawyer to fight the newspaper who revealed his identity. He also takes a case of a superhero accused of murdering a cop and the series turns into a courtroom drama. After the whole thing with the trial is over (I won't spoil what happens with that), Daredevil starts trying to bring down The Owl's organisation.
  This was a great omnibus. The first arc is absolutely amazing. It tackles ideas like dealing with post traumatic stress disorder and abusive parents. The whole run is amazingly written by Brian Michael Bendis. There are some aspects of this run that I don't really love, for example, I don't really like seeing Vanessa as a stable and healthy person. I prefer seeing her as she was in "Daredevil: Love and War", but that's my problem and her character is honestly very well written in this. Another very well written character is Fisk, The Kingpin. I always love his character, but here he's really fantastic. He's still a terrible person, but I love reading stories with him. Another very well written character is Daredevil. This Daredevil is very traumatized and he's in a terrible mental state. He believes that he doesn't deserve love and good things to happen to him. Daredevil is a hero that always gets very hurt, but this Daredevil here is one of the most hurt characters I've read.
Something else that Bendis did very well is that at some point Matt starts dating a blind woman and while a lesser writer would just focus on the fact that she's blind and make her a one-sided character, Bendis gives her a very interesting and unique personality and makes her a full rounded person. Furthermore, I really like the fact that Foggy knows Matt's secret identity. It gives them the opportunity to talk about Matt's Daredevil problems and if they couldn't do that the comic wouldn't have been the same. Also, it really shows how strong their friendship is. Something very unique about this run is that it literally turns into a courtroom drama at some point and while someone might think that it's boring to read multiple issues with zero actual action and just people arguing in a courtroom, Bendis writes it in such a way that he makes it extremely interesting and captivating.
The writing in this first half of the run truly is great. There are a lot of beautifully written narration boxes, many dialogues and long monologues. It's very text heavy and while that might make it a bit less enjoyable than a more action-packed comic, it still manages to be very enjoyable and captivating. Although it's in general a very text heavy comic, there are also some really great silent moments. Bendis manages very well to find a balance between these moments and the moments with a lot of text. Issue 28 is completely silent and it's an amazing issue. Bendis' writing, combined with Alex Maleev's artwork really makes it work perfectly. The run has many noir aspects, which makes sense if we look at Bendis' writing past and I think that they blend very well with the story. The story constantly moves back and forth in time and usually I hate that, but Bendis writes it in such a way that it works amazingly. Other than everything else, I think that this run is a very interesting examination of what happens when a hero's identity is exposed to the public. Also, at a large extend what's happening in this run is Matt trying to deal with Karen Page's death so at the same time it's a great examination of how someone deals with the loss of a loved one and how grief is different for everyone.
  The first story arc has artwork by David Mack and it's really wonderful. There are some things that are done digitally but there also are many things done with a pencil and watercolors. His artwork is truly beautiful and in many parts it reminds me of Bill Sienkiewicz's weird and amazing artwork. Almost all of the other issues are drawn by Maleev and his artwork is really fantastic. He uses a lot of digital techniques and he does it in a great way. Issues 38 and 39 are drawn by Manuel Gutierrez and I have to say that I'm not really a fan of his artwork. It's not that it's bad, but he uses photoshop too much in a very obvious way and it annoys me. I have no problem with artists using photoshop, Alex Maleev does it as well, but Manuel does it in a very lazy way (in my opinion). The artwork in issue 40 is done by Terry Dodson and Rachel Dodson and I'm not really a fan of their artwork, but thankfully after that all the issues are drawn by Alex Maleev, although weirdly his style changes a bit, but I think it's for the best.

[Yazan Al-Jurf · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a different take on Dare Devil I like it a lot. Can't say much in the review without spoilers. It's a slow burn for the warning! I like slow burns if it is well written, and this one I would say it is.

[Pedro Trigo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, the hype is real! This book is as good as everyone says.
Bendis is right at home with street level heroes, and his daredevil proves it. However you will not only get the best daredevil but also the best Matt Murdock.

[Muhammad (Faisal) · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are some of the best comic stories i have ever experienced. I can't wait to read the other volumes!

[Ellzo · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best possible examples of comic books being used as a storytelling medium I've ever read. There are so many moments here that will forever be stuck in my head, and I can't see them being adapted into any other visual medium without losing at least some of the magic. The gorgeous, evocative art complements the crime film-inspired writing and dialogue to give an atmosphere and aesthetic that feels entirely its own. I can see myself coming back to this a lot over the years.

[Mackenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably one of my favourite runs of all time

[Max Haley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a masterpiece! The writing and the artwork is truly exceptional throughout the whole book. I can’t recommend it enough

[Duncs Comics · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been working my way through my DD omnis in anticipation for the release of Daredevil: Born Again, the much-awaited revival of the show that previously defined a Netflix generation of premium streaming media.

Perhaps of all the iterations, the Bendis and Maleev run feels the most… contemporary and grounded of DD, despite also feeling distinctly 2000s. I think this vibe is a credit to both creators, Maleev’s gritty, highly stylized, shadowy artwork gives the book a cinematic quality, whilst Bendis’ sharp, overly conversational, banter focused dialogue is a forerunner for what became the MCU style. Humanizing superheroes is Marvel’s brand, and Bendis is the innovator of the signature “Marvel wit”. Needless to say, he writes an excellent Spider-man. ‘Bendis Speak’ gets knocked sometimes, but it really works for me here. I feel like this is the DD run I could most confidently present to a fan of the Marvel movies or Daredevil series. It feels like reading a comic version of the Marvel we have seen on the screen in recent years. There are some continuity factors, but it remains newcomer friendly.

I love how unified this era of Marvel comics felt, with the interjections of characters like Spider-man or Captain America in this run not feeling like cover-bait material for tacky crossover comics, but instead like an alive New York, occupied by superheroes. The appearances of other Avengers are used moderately and purposefully, to they extent that they are a welcome addition to the story of Matt Murdock’s ascension to apparent ‘Kingpin’ status.

Also, the relative limitations of Daredevil’s street level powers is something that levels the playing field. I don’t recall ever being so impressed with how physically powerful Black Widow is (She doesn’t have superpowers), but in this story her peak human conditioning and martial arts expertise make her something to awe at. That’s how I felt reading as a teenager, every single one of these superheroes is a power fantasy. When the heroes eventually gather on the top of a building towards the climax, they feel like powerful, inspirational beings.

One of the reasons I love reading Daredevil is the emotional complexities and drama of the character, his self-destructive patterns and the implications on his relational world. In this run, Bendis builds towards the emotional climax that perhaps the reason for Matt going off the rails in the way he has, is that he hasn’t overcome the trauma of Karen Page’s death. The idea being that this whole storyline has been one of Matt’s mental breakdown. Now I don’t know where mental health discussions were at in 2008, but I am going to assume this may actually be a pretty progressive inclusion, and it is one that is brilliantly done.

Overall, I feel as though this crime drama in a superhero setting is executed incredibly well, and I love the decompressed storytelling of Daredevil’s identity being exposed, and the way it impacts the superheroes, street level criminals and supervillains that occupy this version of New York. It develops the tragic noir elements that Frank Miller laid the foundation for, and come on… that fight scene in #50 with revolving artists each panel who have previously been on the title? Too cool!

[Fenko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book review:
+ Daredevil by Bendis and Maleev (volume 2: #26-#81)

I enjoyed the grittiness of the Daredevil television series some time ago, and went in search of the comics that had inspired it. Now I'm no great fan of superhero comics, for they often look tacky in bright red and yellow and use teenage dialogue with little nuance. And then I stumbled upon the run by Bendis and Maleev.

Bendis writes slow stories, building from the caleidoscope of multiple perspectives, which Maleev paints in dark realistic silhouettes, for none of these scenes should happen in bright daylight. It's not a happy story, for Daredevil is not a happy character: blinded as kid, Matt Murdock developed supernatural hearing and radar, able to sense conversations and events a city block over. Once he learned to overcome that sensory overload, he grew up to be a lawyer by day and vigilante by night, striving to bring justice without overstepping the boundaries between them. But now those boundaries are breaking.

This is the story of Matt's secret identity being outed, and him fighting to maintain some sanity as all his past court cases are threatened to be reopened, while old enemies now come gunning for his daytime persona. It's tense, it's emotional, and except for a weird horror story near the end pretty good stuff.

Again, this is not a happy story. (I had to dip into the next run by Brubaker to get some sense of closure after it.) But heck, it is well written & drawn. I did not enjoy the earlier Miller volumes (too fast, too impersonal), but Bendis can make you care about the characters - reporter Ben Urich who has to decide what to write; lawyer Foggy Nelson who wants to support his friend but so often has to deal with the fallout of the other's double life; even some crooks who get better motivations than in most comics; and of course Matt himself, who wants to take on the corruption in the world singlehandedly, but really really can't.

[ThisGuyReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brian Michael Bendis' Daredevil is not only one of the best Daredevil runs of all time, but also one of the best comic book runs ever. This omnibus is only volume 1 of 2, but it wastes no time. Not only does shit go down, but every issue is consistently well-written. There is so much to gush about with this comic.

One such thing is Alex Maleev's superb art to go along with Bendis' equally super writing. It has a scratchiness and grittiness to it that encapsulates the grime and dirtiness of Hell's Kitchen perfectly alongside Matt's crumbling mental state. The way he draws Daredevil lurking in the night and making his way through Hell's Kitchen nails the kind of fear and mystique those who encounter him might experience. Without a doubt, this is the Devil of Hell's Kitchen. And Maleev is able to tell a story so well with his layouts and art that Bendis oftentimes takes a step back and lets Maleev tell the story for him through the art, without dialogue or any overbearing narration. In fact, there's one issue where that is precisely what Bendis does for nearly the entire issue to wonderful results. There's a lot to love with the art, especially because Maleev just has a way of making every page feel fresh.

That is a quality not just of this run's art, but of the writing and storytelling as well. There are so many memorable issues packed throughout this run, each offering something unique and fresh. Not a single issue is wasted. Bendis does not meander, and he doesn't make you "wait for the good stuff". It is consistent. Bendis gives us a grounded, mature, and carefully written story, with characters who are all given the respect and care they are due. Daredevil's mental health is a persistent theme of this run, but it's not until near the end of this first omnibus that it's more laid out in the open. Bendis and Maleev in this run are like peanut butter and jelly, and I am excited to move on to the second omnibus.

[Camilo Guerra · Rating 5 out of 5]

-¿COMO LOGRAS, QUE A PESAR DE SER CIEGO, TODAS TUS NOVIAS PAREZCAN MODELOS EUROPEAS?

Recopilación de los primeros 36 números de la etapa de Brian Michael Bendis , algo mas de tres años de Daredevil siendo expuesto al publico, con Kingpin sufriendo pero molestando, Yakuza, el FBI, la prensa,Typhoid Mary, Bullseye y UNA NUEVA MUJER !!!.

LO BUENO: la historia no se detiene nunca, pasan cosas entre numero y numero y eso es de agradecer ya que todo lo que sucede importa ,se siente la tensión en el ambiente ,de que pueden pasar mas y mas cosas , sea a Matt o a Kingpin, te sientes igual de cansado que Foggy, y eso esta muy bien contado, todo momento es muy importante y disfrutable, y cuando hay conflicto, este esta construido, desde la pelea contra los Yakuza, o la rabia contra Bullseye, y mira tu, que hermoso personaje que es Milla, vulnerable y lindo a partes iguales. El arte tiene momentos en que te cagas de lo hermoso que se ve, sientes la opresión y fuerza de Alex Maleev a partes iguales.

LO MALO: Si, el arte de Maleev es hermoso, pero hay momentos en que abusa muchísimo del photoshop y uno se queja de Greg Land( busquen Greg Land Reddit) pero el tipo tiene momentos en que se pasa, y mucho, la escena cuando hablan de drogas en una limosina tiene a la mujer mas mal dibujada en la historia, ¿a donde mira?, y así pasa en ocasiones, que son solo sombras y sombras, y si bien Bendis es una bestia en lo que hace, hay ocasiones que abusa y mucho de la elipsis , pasamos de estar en un momento difícil a ...un año después, 09 días después, 03 meses después...y hombre, estas adelantándote mucho y no me estas contando cosas cuando hay paginas en que abusas de los diálogos, o sea, por espacio no es.

[Michael Emond · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of those runs on Daredevil that everyone seemed to have loved so I wanted to see what the fuss was about. There have been a lot of classic runs of Daredevil - Frank Miller (three times) DG Chichester (one of the under appreciated runs) Ann Nocenti, Brubaker, Waid (one I did NOT like). Where does this one fall? Well the art by Maleev is unique BUT didn't win me over. Maybe because most of this volume has Daredevil in his civilian clothes as Matt Murdock and not being a super hero. The story by Bendis are really three stories - a nice story focusing on Ben Urich (which is very much an homage (steal?) from Miller, the MAIN story about the fall of Kingpin and the exposure of Daredevil as Matt Murdock (which was more a mob story than a Daredevil story) and a story about a hero wrongly convicted of a crime (which may have been original at the time but feels like we've seen it before now).

Overall, I wasn't as "wowed" as I expected to be. These were good stories but just didn't feel new and exciting like some of the better Daredevil runs. Also, full disclosure, I have never been a fan of Bendis' writing. He is a good writer but gets too cutsie with his dialogue (Matt's inner dialogue when running into Elektra was particularly painful to read) and his writing is very light in the sense I could breeze through this omnibus in a few hours while another omnibus would have taken me weeks. I enjoyed reading this but after the build up I can't say I would place it in the pantheon of epic Daredevil stories in terms of either the writing or art, but I would still recommend it.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had not read much Daredevil prior to this. I read the crossover with The Punisher and Spider-Man and The Punisher again. I enjoyed season 1 of the TV series. I wanted to read more of the character since he has attracted my attention lately. I read a lot of excellent reviews for Brian Michael Bendis' stories, so I decided to get the omnibus, and I must say money well worth spent.

The dialogue in this omnibus is excellent. The artwork creates a gritty world, and it is stunning to look at. The storylines were also captivating. Daredevil is definitely among my top comic book characters of all time now because of Bendis' stories.

The only negative is the first storyline. It is boring and the artwork is all over the place. I want to give this volume five stars, but that storyline was absolutely atrocious and unexciting. The next storylines improve this volume by a mile when we see a gangster try to take out The Kingpin. Matt Murdock starts to have conflict with himself as the story continues. You see exciting trials as well.

Worth reading.

[L J Field · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed Daredevil in my teens but got away from comics as I entered my twenties. More than forty years later I found this omnibus (and volume 2) and decided I absolutely must read the comic again and more or less catch up. Originally it was the artwork that grabbed my attention; the dark, moody and beautiful scenes. But I was totally unprepared for the writing. This 800 + page tome is an epic. There are whole issues devoted to scenes in which there is no super-villain or even battles with adversaries. This is a thoughtfully laid out, multi-year scenario of what it would be like to be a super hero in real life. There are multiple pages laid out just to philosophize over the use of power, the deceit of having a secret identity, the foundations of being a vigilante, the right and wrong of taking justice into one's own hands. It was simply the most thoughtful comic I've ever encountered. And I'm stunned. This is well worth reading and will give you an experience you won't forget.

[Taro Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daredevil was one of the first superhero stories I read when I got back into comics, and the Bendis run was where it all began for me (To be precise that super cheap issue that came out when the Ben Affleck movie did).

What I love about this run on Daredevil, and the character in general, is that this isn't a Daredevil comic, it's a Matt Murdoch comic, it's a Ben Ulrich comic, it's a Foggy Nelson comic, and yes there is Daredevil but he is essentially another side of Matt Murdoch and this is where this comic is so different, the secret identity IS the main character. This escalates more so as the story develops (which I won't go into for spoiler reasons). It also has the grittiest most interesting art I've seen in comics with Alex Maleev, and some of the most beautiful with David Mack.

Now for Vol. 2

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently discovered that I absolutely love these omnibus editions, their weight and feel and quality, so I've been using them to catch up on some runs that I've been meaning to read for years. The format has really rekindled my love of comics. This first of two collections of Brian Michael Bendis's Daredevil is completely extraordinary. Smart and with a true understanding of who the character is. The various arcs explore different aspects of Matt Murdoch and his alter ego brilliantly.

Like the Brubaker Caption America Omnibus that I just finished though, as good as this was, and as much as I enjoyed reading it, I just didn't connect with it emotionally as much as I would have liked. I was repeatedly blown over by Maleev's art - the photo referencing may have added to my emotional distance, but it's completely stunning in its own way.

Absolutely recommended, anyways.

[Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was always a passive fan of Daredevil as I saw him featured in different ways in Marvel media (e.g. TV, movies). Over the last year, I saw how much praise about every Daredevil run had, and I finally decided to start the plunge into Daredevil comics, starting with Bendis.

The first volume of Bendis's run was nothing short of amazing. It had a lot of noir aspects brought to a superhero story. I am a big fan of noir/crime in the media I consume, so it was a natural fit.

As I went through this first volume, I thoroughly enjoyed my time with it, and took the time between each story arc to digest and continue.

I want to highlight The Trial of the White Tiger story. I think this has to be my favourite comic book/graphic novel story that I have read, or very near the top.

I am beyond excited to continue my deep dive into Daredevil, and would recommend grabbing Bendis's run! (I know Miller is often a jumping on point, but I wanted something more modern as a start. I am sure I will go back to Miller at some point.)

[Ross Cudmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

A definitive Daredevil run starts strong, featuring incredible artwork and some of Bendis' best writing.

The enjoyment of a good super-hero comic is seeing the character pushed to edge, forced to face hardships and adapt to challenges, and Bendis does that incredibly well in the first half of his run.

Daredevil's secret identity has been leaked to the press and now everything threatens to fall down around Matt Murdock. Shaking up the status quo Bendis creates an exciting and dangerous situation for Matt, where he is forced to make difficult choices.

Bendis does a great job capturing the voice of both Matt and his allies and enemies, like Foggy Nelson and the Kingpin. There is a grounded sense of realism to the story, enhanced by the moody artwork that is interesting and engaging.

A great starting point for new Daredevil fans, especially for fans of the Netflix show.

[Ben Perry · Rating 4 out of 5]

(4.5 stars)

I started it, liked it, forgot about it, intended to pick it back up again, never did for some reason, until now! This will probably be the longest start to finish time I’ll have on this page.

This is an awesome read, and from the first issue, it becomes apparent why Bendis is considered a legend among comics, with this run being essential reading for Daredevil fans. It has sick moments, fresh ideas, compelling stories, and beautifully gritty artwork which is the perfect aesthetic for this character. If you are a long time fan of the character who’s read everything, you will feel truly rewarded when you get to this as it takes the past events, uses them to an unexpected yet satisfying effect, and for new readers, it’s just an epic superhero drama.

Highly recommend.

[Ale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bendis atrapa al lector desde el primer momento. Me he sentido enganchado y absorbido por el mundo que construye y por esta versión más decadente, violenta y depresiva del diablo de la Cocina del Infierno.

Es cierto que hacia la mitad del omnibus la lectura se vuelve algo más pesada, incluso con la sensación de que hay cierto relleno. Aun así, la obra se mantiene consistente y sabe hilar bien entre capítulos de avance y otros que son auténticas joyas.

Las tramas y subtramas están bien planteadas, los personajes evolucionan con profundidad y credibilidad, y todo se sostiene con una narrativa adulta, sin concesiones.

Una experiencia que merece la pena. Me dispongo a seguir con el volumen 2. Recomendado.

[Logan Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was on track to be as good as Jessica Jones. Bendis just has a way with writing street-level superheroes. I really enjoy the art for most of this omnibus as well, except for the short court room arc. The thing that dropped this from five stars to four stars was the dumb turn it took at the end with having the Yakuza trying to take over Hell’s Kitchen. I hope I don’t have to explain why that’s ridiculous, and it just seemed like Bendis wanting to have a Japanese element in his story for no reason. Hopefully vol 2 can keep up the quality but avoid the unfortunate plot twists.